Matthew 13 "Preach the Gospel and If Necessary Use Words!"
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In another passage Jesus tells his disciples not to throw their "pearls before swine." Meaning don't feed what is holy to the dogs. Simply put, Jesus wants all people to seek the truth through Him. But if people are not interested or are disinclined to take him seriously, he lets them be. Jesus can't make anybody listen to him, nor does he try to. Jesus also realizes that some were already hardened, and might listen but with no intention of learning anything from him.
I think this is a good principle to remember. We have all had conversations with people who were combative to our point of view from the beginning. We see this a lot in political conversations. There is really no exchange of ideas, just one person trying to prove another wrong.
So then how are we to share the Good News? We know we are called to share the Good News. Jesus gives us the Great Commission. But that is just it, sharing is different than trying to "cram it down someone's throat". As our first parable teaches, we are only cast the seeds. If it falls on fertile ground, it may take root. Or it can initially take root, but then weeds may choke it out its growth. But some seed that is sown takes root, grows and actually bears fruit. Importantly for us to remember is, "Though we plant the seeds, it is God who makes it grow!"
In the end this truth takes the pressure off of us to convert anyone. We should not even try. We are only called to live a life worthy of the gospel and then when asked, give an answer for the hope we have in Jesus.
St Francis of Assisi said, "Preach the gospel and if necessary use words!"
10 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.
In this chapter of Matthew, Jesus teaches six different parables to the crowds who were following him. A parable was an earthly analogy, with a heavenly meaning. Jesus often used analogies in parables that people could understand. For instance the first three parables deal with farming, which was very relevant in an agricultural society. For example the "sower and seed", "weeds and wheat", and "mustard seed" parables are the first three he teaches.
Jesus taught parables that rewarded those who were seeking the truth, and only further hardened those who had already rejected the truth.
William Barclay says it this way,
"The parable conceals truth from those who are either too lazy to think or too blinded by prejudice to see. It puts the responsibility fairly and squarely on the individual. It reveals truth to him who desires truth; it conceals truth from him who does not wish to see the truth.” In another passage Jesus tells his disciples not to throw their "pearls before swine." Meaning don't feed what is holy to the dogs. Simply put, Jesus wants all people to seek the truth through Him. But if people are not interested or are disinclined to take him seriously, he lets them be. Jesus can't make anybody listen to him, nor does he try to. Jesus also realizes that some were already hardened, and might listen but with no intention of learning anything from him.
I think this is a good principle to remember. We have all had conversations with people who were combative to our point of view from the beginning. We see this a lot in political conversations. There is really no exchange of ideas, just one person trying to prove another wrong.
So then how are we to share the Good News? We know we are called to share the Good News. Jesus gives us the Great Commission. But that is just it, sharing is different than trying to "cram it down someone's throat". As our first parable teaches, we are only cast the seeds. If it falls on fertile ground, it may take root. Or it can initially take root, but then weeds may choke it out its growth. But some seed that is sown takes root, grows and actually bears fruit. Importantly for us to remember is, "Though we plant the seeds, it is God who makes it grow!"
In the end this truth takes the pressure off of us to convert anyone. We should not even try. We are only called to live a life worthy of the gospel and then when asked, give an answer for the hope we have in Jesus.
St Francis of Assisi said, "Preach the gospel and if necessary use words!"
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